Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-19
RUBY MINING"
The Industry as Followed In the
Burmese Country.
a Great British Syndicate and Monopoly
Royal Rubies Carried Out of the
COuntry-Unhealthful OF
the Mining District.

The successful advance of British
force to the Ruby lands Of Upper Bur-
NAH, and its establishment in that
difficult country, imparts additional
interest to the acquisition of Burmese
territory by the Indian authorities.
The actual position of the Ruby terri
tory is now placed beyond a doubt;
but, inasmuch as good deal of mis-
understanding exists on other points
connected with the land of gems, its
extent and probable value, it may be
well to place on record 4 few ascer-
tanned facts in regard to them.
The designation Ruby Mines is al
together inappropriate, seeing that no
mining is required, or at any rate has
ever been attempted. The gems are
found in avery rough state, at dis
tances from the surface of the land
varying from three feet to {: dozen;
and these tracts of free, gravelly soil,
intermixed with quartzy clay, stretch
in long. slightly undulating plains.
skirted by ranges of lofty hills. As is
the case in the gem-pits of Ceylon,
rubies are found in the same localities
as sapphires, tourmalines, &c, but
with this difference, that in Durham
the ruby is the most generally found.
In Ceylon, the amethyst and sapphire
are more frequently obtained. 1t is
stated by some writer's that these rubies
are found in abundance over Il distance
of eighty miles or more. No authori-
ty exists for this statement; but it is
certain that gemming has been carried
on in that part of Upper Burmah for
centuries, and there must be consider
able tracts of country which have been
dug over and apparently exhausted of
their natural wealth; but it is propable
that by deeper and more scientifically
conducted explorations of the soil.
with proper pumping apparatus. more
valuable rubies than those already
found might be obtained.
The Indian Government has leased
the privilege of digging for rubies in
Burmah to a European syndicate for
an annual payment of five laos of ru-
PEGS equal at par to fifty thousand
pounds; and it has been asserted that
the estimated value of the yearly out
put of rubies is not above twenty thou
sand pounds.
1t is most improbable that any relia-
Die information is in existence on this
point, seeing that the utmost secrecy
has invariably been observed by gem
diggers and gem-merchants in Burmah,
as well as in Ceylon, as to the results
of working the pits. Moreover. as all
rubies found above a certain size are
declared to be the property of the Sover-
cign, there is an additional inducement
to maintain silence as to any great prizes
being found. Large as the alleged
rental to be paid to the Government
may appear, it should be borne in mind
how much the value of a ruby increases
when above certain size, more SO
even than in the case of diamonds.
About ten years ago two oriental rubies
were brought to England from Burmah
much above the size prescribed by roy
atty in that country, weighing, the one
thirty-seven, the other forty-seven car
ats. Having been recut. they were re-
duced in size. but improved in appear
ance; and so much was their value in
creased, that one of them was ulti-
mately sold for ten thousand pounds.
the other for twice that amount. With
the possibility. therefore. of finding
such gems as these, the rental of the
Ruby mines does not appear excessive.
= The reader need scarcely be told that
in its natural state, when removed
from pit and freed from the gravelly
soil in which it was imbedded. ruby
of the finest quality would not strike a
casual observer very differently from
an ordinary pebble. the eye of an ex-
pert being required to distinguish a
valuable gem from an ordinary stone.
To the present time. the mode of search
ing for rubies has been most primitive.
no machinery being employed, nothing
but the rudest implements. A sort OF
hoe and pick. to loosen the ground and
lift the soil; a vessel in which to wash
the stones from the earthly matter; and
finally, table or board, on which the
stones are placed for the separation Of